Soap powder dispenser



Sept 28 1948 G. H. PAcKwooD, JR 2,450,155

` soAP Powpfmz DISPENSER FiledJune 26, 1942 Patented Sept. 28, 1948 UNITE-D STATES ATENT oFricE 2,450,155 soar POWDER ,DISPENSER George H. 'Packwooi Jr., St. Louis, Mo. Application Jane 26, 1942, Serial No. 448,585

n 12 Claims. 1

This invention is directed to a dispenser, par'- 'ticularly one adapted for use with powdered soap or other similarly powdered material.

In general, this dispenser includes a bowl having a tapered bottom part with ka 4central orice 'therein adapted to be closed by a vertical reciprocable valve. This valve is given an external diameter preferably substantially equal to the' diameter of the orifice, or 'at least so closely related thereto that egress of material through the 'ori- 'lice is prevented at the time the valve is in its closing position. Above the valve is a false bot- "tom, also sloping, and Iain upper orifice above the first mentioned orifice. The valve is operated preferably by `a plunger having a transverse handle extending vout a't the 'top part of the dispenser; and an arresting means is provided at the top of the ydispenser bo'wl for acting upon the 'plunger to give an agitation of the bowl and its contents in each direction of travel, `as well 'as an adjust-'ment of the stroke 'of the valve. There is also provided a covering means for the adjusting means, and a shield depending about certain of the operating parts to prevent their becoming 'clogged with soap.

The objects of the invention include provision of a dispenser accomplishing each of the above discussed functions.

More particularly, the objects include the pro'- vision of a valve that definitely and preferably positively closes the orice in th'e bottom of the dispenser, but which may be removed through the bottom of the dispenser. It is an object to provide 'such a valve that is not subject to being 'packed with soap and to employ it in a combina- 'tion preventing bleeding of soap from the dis- VLpenser. l V

A further object is to provide a valve of this kind in a dispenser in a combination whereby the valve-operating means may be at the top of the "bowl, or at the bottom but using the same valve vand plunger. Otherwise stated, it is an object to provide a dispenser adaptable to either one or two handed operation with a minimum of parts.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of the dispenser;

Fig. 2 is a fio'nt elevation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper part;

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section of the dispenser with the cover removed;

Fig. 5 is a vertical diagrammatical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

e Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken at 90 to that of Fig. 5 and on the line 6--6 of Fig. 1;

- reciprocation of the valve.

`2 Fig. '7 is a View of the plunger with the hande operating handle at the bottom; and,

.pa-rt l I having an orifice I2 at the bottom thereof.

Above the tapered part and within the bowl is a false bottom member I3 tapering `upwardly and `downwardly to an orifice I4 coaxial with the ori- 'ce I2 but smaller than that orifice. g

A valve I6 is preferably of va size to lit lfairly yexactly within the orifice I2. 'As shown in Figs. 5 :and '7., this valve preferably has a circularcorrugation I 'I therearound so that its outer edge slopes downwardly and toward the tapered portion II-. The valve IB may be withdrawn through the bottom of the dispenser, but, being capable of passing through the orifice I2, it may reciprocate up*- wardly' from the position of Fig. 5. It seals the bottom. of the dispenser against ingress of water splashed thereagainst, and prevents discharge of material -f-r'om the `dispenser when it is closed. lIts fit is vclose to achieve both functions, but the latter may be accomplished with a less perfect fit, as the tapering bottom will fit so closely to the valve that no material can 'escape even if the valve is not `exactly down to the lowermost point. The downturned edge of the valve produces a cutting action through any material about the orifice upon descent of the valve.

A modification of this Valve is shown in Fig. 8. `It has a center portion I8 :concave upwardly, and surrounded by a downturned flange or skirt I9. The lower part of the skirt is sized substantially to fill the opening I2.

The flange or skirt on these valves might, by being repeatedly drenched, become wet so that soap would adhere to its edges. However, such adherence would be limited to the skirt, 'and owing to the slope thereof, would readily come oi in It would not pack under the false bottom, as preferably the skirt is of larger diameter than the opening I4 of the false :bottom I3. Also the conical skirt readily vadapts itself to inequalities in shaping of the opening I2, :so as to permit its insertion therethrough. On this point this case is related to copending applilcation Serial No. 234,186 filed October 10., 1938, issued 7as Patent No. 2,307,291, January 5, 1943.

The valve has a central opening through it which receives a pin 20 that engages in an opening 2| extending axially upward in a plunger '22. A transverse pin 23 passes through the plunger and the Ipin 20 to secure the pin 20 and, consequently the valve I6, in place. A drive pin may be used, eliminating necessity of the pin 23. The plunger 22 is given a substantial mass so as to acquire considerable inertia in motion. At its upper end, it is provided with a transverse hole 25 into which extends a reduced portion 25 on a handle 21. The portion 23 has a transverse securing pin 28 through it and rby means of which the handle 21 is pivoted to the plunger 22. The handle 21 passes through a closely iitted opening 3|! in a wall of the bowl I0 and its outer end may be depressed and then released whereupon the valve will fall owing to the mass of its parts.

A groove 30| surrounds the handle (or at least extends around the lower part) to accommodate the component of inward movement thereof when the handle is operated. This inward, pivotal movement could cause binding of the handle in the hole without the relief 30|, owing to the fact that the handle at the point of entrance into the hole 30, substantially fills it. to maintain this degree of lling.

Across the upper part of the dispenser bowl I0 is a striker and guide strap 3| which is provided with upstanding ends that are secured to the bowl I0. The striker 3| has a center opening 32 that `receives the upper end of the plunger 22. A cotter pin 33 checks downward movement of the plunger and the valve. Upward movement of the valve is controlled by a screw 34 passing through a box 35 having iianges 36 receiving screws 31, by means of which the box 35 is attached to the strap 3|. A lock nut 38 holds the screw 34 in set position. The box 35 with the portion of the strap 3| beneath it closing its one open side, provides an impact chamber that is enclosed from the soap, save for what small space may occur between the plunger 22` and the walls of the orifice 32.

To restrict the passage of soap toward the oririce 32, as well as toward the hole 30 and the operating parts of the handle, a skirt member 42 is provided. This skirt member comprises a channel with depending side portions 43 and 44 extending down below the bottom of the handle 21. At one end, the side portions 43 and 44 are cut away, as at 45. Upon removal of the screws 31 and the box 35, the skirt portion 42 may be pivoted upwardly about its edge 46, the edges 45 permitting such action and being cut away substantially on an arc about the edge 46.

This skirt member prevents soap from getting below the handle 21 in quantity or mass to restrict the downward, return movement thereof, as well as above the handle between it and the strap 3|.

The cover of the dispenser engages over two lugs 5I) with a bayonet connection. A strap 5| extends vertically from one of the upstanding portions of the strap 3| and receives a screw 52, having a triangular, square, half round, or some other shaped head 53 engageable by an unique socket key. When the cover is in the position of Fig. 3, the screw |53 is turned out until it engages within an opening 54 of the cover to prevent rotation of the cover, and thus preventing removal of the cover.

An alternative assembly of the handle is shown in Fig. '1. There the pin 28 is removed to release the handle 21, the pin 20 is removed, and the plunger (or a shortened counterpart, if preferred) is inserted through the valve in the .place of the pin 20, the reduced portion 26 taking the place of that pin, and receiving the pin 23. Thus it will be seen that with this assembly the valve and plunger elements are the same elements and may be used with the operating handle at the The relief is sized 4 top or at the bottom. The handle at the top requires the use of both hands for obtaining the soap, because one hand must be held below the orice I2 while the other operates the valve handle 21. With the type of assembly shown in Fig. 7, the palm of the hand engages the handle 21 to lift the valve so that the soap falls into the hand.

In use, powdered soap, or like material to be dispensed, is put into the dispenser through the top until the bowl is lled. The soap will not ordinarily rise within the channel member 42', and if it does do so, it will not go very far in that direction. It thus does not become impacted above or below the handle 21 so as to prevent free operation thereof. Likewise, it is kept from the hole 30 or the orice 32 and their associated parts.

With the valve closed, the soap will ow through the smaller outlet I4 and onto the top of the valve I6. None can escape from the orifice without an actual movement of the valve, and no water can be splashed onto the soap to cause it to adhere to parts of the dispenser. Even if some water should get in, as previously mentioned, it cannot prevent operation of the dispenser. When the valve is raised, the soap is extruded over its edge and iiows out the main orice I2. When the valve is in its upper position and the extrusion completed, the diierence in diameter of the valve and the orice I4 is such that the soap does not ow over the edge of the valve. This is aided by the corrugation I1, or the concave portion I8 of Fig. 8. When the valve is lowered, its downward edge cuts through any particles about the orifice, the cutting nature of the action reducing packing of the soap onto the mouth of the dispenser.

Since powdered soap is hygroscopic, it is necessary to break up the cohering .parts of the mass of soap to ensure now. In this dispenser, this is accomplished on both the upstroke and the downstroke.

In Fig. 5, the normal operation includes a striking by the plunger 22 on the screw 34 on the upstroke, and a striking by the pin 33 on the downstroke, setting up vibrations in the strap 3| that are transmitted to the bowl and the soap, The downstroke agitation is enhanced by the mass of the valve and its operating parts. If the screw is too far up to be struck, the upward agitation may occur by striking of the handle 21 on the strap, or when one-handed operation is arranged, as in Fig. 7, by engagement of the plunger 22 against the top of the box 35. If a careless maintenance man has removed the box 35, in the arr-angement of Fig. '1, agitation will yet occur by engagement of the valve I6 with the member I3. Thus, this dispenser assures complete agitation of the contents under all circumstances.

As noted, the adjustment of the screw 34 determines the stroke of the valve and thereby determines the amount of soap dispensed with each valve operation.

In this dispenser, the handle cannot be rotated with the valve open (or closed) to cause excess discharge of material, as the pin 33 is too long, and strikes the walls of the box 35, even with the one-handed operating handle oi Fig. '7 employed.

The window 55 gives visual information as to whether the dispenser is supplied with soap. The dispenser is secured to the wall in a vertical position as by brackets 56.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispenser for iinely divided material, including a bowl having a tapering bottom portion,

a'i riflc'e' at the bottom thereof, a disc valve shaped to have a sliding nt in theoriiice,y a plunger' extending upwardly from the val-ve,- a striker member across the top of the bowl, andhaving anopening through which the upper end of the plunger' extends, mean'sabove the' striker member suspending the plunger in the orice to close the same, said means being removable from the top of the plunger to permit the plunger and valve to' be withdrawn through the orifice', and means to adjust the upward limit of the Stroke of ,the valve.

2`. A dispenser for finely divided material, including a bowl having a tapered bottom portion with an orifice at the bottom thereof, adisc valve adapted to pass through the orice but to close the same, a plunger extending upwardly from the valve,- across member within the bowl having a hole therein to receive the plunger', a removable pin in the plunger above the cross member to engage the member and suspend the plunger with the valve across the oriee, an adjustable stop, means removably supporting the stopvabove the top of the plunger, a handle near the top of the plunger, means removably and pivotally attaching the handle to the plunger, said handle extending to the outside of the bowl.

3. A dispenser for nely divided material, including a bowl, an outlet therein, a valve means for controlling flow of material through the opening, the valve means including a stem extending into the bowl, a striker means in the bowl, means on the stem for engaging the striker means to limit downward movement of the valve and to effect agitation of the material upon such down- Ward movement, the stem and limiting means providing for a gravity fall of the stem, an adjustable limiting means engageable upon upward movement of the valve to limit upward movement of the valve and to effect such agitation, said last means including an immovable member and an adjustable member, and adjustment of the adjustable member determining the valve stroke, the immovable member being aligned with the plunger so as to be engageable thereby upon excess withdrawal of the adjustable member.

4. A dispenser for finely divided material, including a bowl, an outlet therein, a valve means for controlling flow of material through the opening, the valve means including a stem extending into the bowl, a striker means in the bowl, means on the stem for engaging the striker means to limit downward movement of the valve and to effect agitation of the material upon such downward movement, the stem and limiting means providing for a gravity fall of the stem when released, an adjustable limiting means engageable upon upward movement of the valve to limit upward movement of the valve and to effect such agitation, said last means including an immovable member and an adjustable member, and adjustment of the adjustable member determining the valve stroke, the immovable member being aligned with the plunger so as to be engageable thereby upon excess withdrawal of the adjustable member, the immovable member being detachable, and means engageable by the valve means to limit upward movement of the same when the immovable member is detached.

5. A dispenser for iinely divided material, including a bowl, an outlet therein, a valve means controlling flow through thepopening, including a stem extending into the bo'wl, a striker means in the bowl adjacent the stem, a detachable operadrig means secured to uiesteni the strikerl means and adapted to. lift the stem towardthe: striker means, said operating means being en- 'gageable with the striker means in such operation to limit the stroke and cause agitation ofthe material, an additional adjustable limiting means on. the striker means adjustable to obtain agitation and to limit the stroke beyond that permitted by engagement of the operating means, a further removable member engageable by the valve means to limit its stroke when the operating means is detached and the adjustable means displaced excessively, and a nal limiting means; engageable when the last named member is. removed, the adjusting means excessively adjusted, and the operating means detached.

6. A- dispenser for finely divided material, a bowl having a tapered bottom portion and an outletk at the bottom thereof, a valve adapted to pass through the opening but to check, egress of` material therethrough, a second bottom above the iirst and having an outlet above, but smaller than the valve, a plunger extending axially into the bowl, and through the upper outlet, means securing the valve to the plunger, a strap across the interior of the bowl, an opening through the strap through which the plunger passes, means above the strap removably to limit the downward movement of the plunger to dispose the valve in the lower outlet to close the same,v a transverse opening through the plunger adjacent and below the strap, a handle pivotally secured therein, and extending laterally of and through the bowl, the bowl being provided with an opening to that end, a shield over the strap and depending below the handle to check flow of the material around the upper end of the plunger and the handle portions, a box open on one side secured tothe top of the strap with its open side against the strap, and an adjustable member through the box and supported therein for limiting the upwardmovement of the plunger and valve.

'7. In a dispenser for iinely divided material, a bowl, an outlet at the bottom thereof, a valve adapted to close the outlet, a plunger extending axially into the bowl, means securing the valve to the plunger, a strap across the interior of the bowl, an opening through the strap through which the plunger passes, and means above` the strap limiting the downward movement of the plunger to dispose the valve in the outlet to close the same, a transverse opening through the plunger adjacent and below the strap, a handle pivotally secured therein, and extending laterally of and through the bowl, the bowl being provided with an opening to that end, a shield over the strap and depending below the handle to check ow of material around the upper end of the plunger and the handle portions.

8. In a dispenser for finely divided material, a bowl, having a discharge opening therein, a valve controlling flow through the opening, a movable valve operating member extending across the interior of the bowl in the material receiving part thereof, means connecting the valve operating member to the valve, and a shield means disposed about the operating member, to prevent the material from crowding the same to prevent its operation,

9. In a dispenser for finely divided material, a bowl having a discharge opening therein, a valve controlling flow through the opening, a movable valve operating member extending transversely of the interior of the bowl in the material receiving part thereof, means supporting the operating member for a vertical movement in the bowl, means connecting the operating member to the valve, and a shield means in the bowl extending at least over the top of the operating member and down the sides thereof to prevent the material from crowding the operating member to prevent operation thereof.

10. In a dispenser for finely divided material, a bowl having an outlet opening through the bottom wall thereof, an inner downwardly converging wall within the bowl and disposed above the bottom wall of the bowl, an opening in the inner wall, at its bottom, smaller than the outlet opening in the bottom wall of the bowl and spaced thereabove, a valve element in the form of a disc of a size to fit through the outlet opening and having its edges shaped to close the outlet opening of the bottom wall of the bowl, but being larger than the opening in the inner wall, means to suspend the disc element onto the bowl, positioned movably across the outlet opening, said disc valve element having its upper surface below the opening of the inner wall opening, to receive material flowing therethrough, and said disc valve element having its lower surface substantially flush with the lower edge of the bottom wall of the bowl, and means to elevate the disc valve element toward the inner wall, to expel material from the top of the valve-element, and to provide a passage around the edge of the element and below it, through the bottom wall outlet, for the discharge of the material, l

11. In a dispenser for finely divided material, a bowl having an outlet opening through the bottom wall thereof, an inner downwardly converging wall within the bowl and disposed above the bottom wall of the bowl, an opening in the inner Wall, at its bottom, smaller than the outlet opening in the bottom wall of the bowl and spaced thereabove, a valve element in the form of a disc of a size to fit through the outlet opening and having its edges shaped to close the outlet opening of the bottom wall of the bowl, but being larger than the opening in the inner wall, means to suspend the disc element onto the bowl, positioned movably across the outlet opening, said disc valve element having its upper surface below the opening of the inner wall opening, to receive material flowing therethrough, and said disc valve element having its lower surface substantially ush with the lower edge of the bottom wall of the bowl, means to elevate the disc valve element toward the inner wall, to expel material from the top of the valve element, and to provide a passage around the edge of the element and below it, through the bottom wall outlet, for the discharge of the material, the valve suspending means comprising a plunger holding the valve, the plunger extending upwardly into the bowl, support means rigid with the bowl, the plunger having a portion passing through the support means, limiting means on the portion engageable with the support means to limit downward movement of the plunger to position the disc valve in the outlet as aforesaid, and adjustable abutment means rigid with the bowl to be impacted by the plunger on its upward stroke, to limit said upward stroke and agitate the contents of the bowl.

12. In al dispenser for finely divided material, a bowl having an outlet opening through the bottom wall thereof, an inner downwardly converging wall within the bowl and disposed above the bottom wall of the bowl, an opening in the inner wall, at its bottom, smaller than the outlet opening in the bottom wall of the bowl and spaced thereabove, a valve element in the form of a disc of a size to t through the outlet opening and having its edges shaped to close the outlet opening of the bottom wall of the bowl, but being larger than the opening in the inner wall, means to suspend the disc element onto the bowl, positioned movably across the outlet opening, said disc valve element having its upper surface below the opening of the inner wall opening, to receive material iiowing therethrough, and said disc valve element having its lower surface at least as high as the lower edge of the bottom wall of the bowl, and means to elevate the disc valve element toward the inner wall, to expel material from the top of the valve element, and to provide a passage around the edge of the element and below it, through the bottom wall outlet, for the discharge of the material.

GEORGE H. PACKWOOD, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 618,696 Legg Jan. 31, 1899 1,266,195 Beckman May 14, 1918 1,305,476 McCord June 3, 1919 1,863,871 Packwood June 21, 1932 1,993,401 Dudley Mar. 5, 1935 2,190,311 Conner Feb. 13, 1940 2,307,291 Packwood Jan. 5, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country DateY 308,954 Great Britain May 14, 1918 

